5 Musical Biopics Better the Bohemian RhapsodyHey

I didn't get to see Bohemian Rhapsody when it first came out, since I was just so busy. Hearing how my friends had all fallen in love with it, and then seeing how it swept through the awards season picking up Oscars, SACs, and BAFTAs left and right. On the plane back from New York, the airline was showing the movie, and I was excited to finally get to see it. I've loved Queen for as long as I can remember, and the trailers looked awesome, so I settled in to enjoy. However, despite all my excitement, I was severely disappointed. Despite the hype, I found myself bored of the endless concert scenes, and disenchanted by the half baked character development. Honestly, I found myself confused by why everyone was obsessed with this movie that was too long and campy, yet incomplete, rushed, and dull. 

So, I decided to put together a list of some of my favorite musical biopics, that I think are a hundred times better than Bohemian Rhapsody for your viewing pleasure!

1. Selena (1997)

 Anything for Selenas, right? This movie is one of my favorites, and not just because of the glorious costumes and catchy tunes. As a Mexican-American teen, I've always admired Selena for the way she created her own musical identity, despite feeling torn between her Latin roots and her American upbringing. Edward James Olmos, who plays Selena's father, hits the nail right on the head when he says, "We have to be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans, both at the same time! It's exhausting!". 

2. Jersey Boys (2014)

 In late 1950s New Jersey, Francesco Castelluccio, turns to music to help him escape a life of gangs and crime and in the process becomes Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons. Based off the Broadway musical and directed by Clint Eastwood, this movie boasts of glittering nostalgia and heartfelt performances by an extremely talented cast.

3. Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

Sissy Spacek could punch me in the face and I'd be cool with it. Spacek is down right adorable as 1960s country singer Loretta Lynn. Tommy Lee Jones is a pitch perfect douche-bag, and their chemistry together will leave you reeling. It's also inspiring to see a young woman, without any formal musical education, teach herself to play guitar and write her own songs.

4. La Bamba (1987)

One of the few movies to ever make me cry, Esai Morales' scream "RICHIE" makes me tear up every time without fail. With ambition and support from his community, Richie goes from a farm laborer to a teen rock sensation. Inspiring, yet tragic, it is a family favorite.

5. Above Us Only Sky (2019) 

Not technically a biopic, but a really fascinating documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono's lives post Beatles. Free from his Apple Music contract John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono, a famous conceptual artist, embark on a mission to achieve world peace and release a new album, spurring a creative renaissance. A must-see for any of my fellow Yoko Ono apologists. Remember: Yoko did not break up the Beatles, she is not a gold digger, and she is not crazy.

Hope you enjoy!